Do you think this is a real one or a frankenphone?

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Thorhallur
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Do you think this is a real one or a frankenphone?

Post by Thorhallur »

The seller says "Circa 1930's Gramophone player together with a quantity of gramophone records. The wooden cased table top gramophone having a brass horn and soundbox, the latter marked 'Prizmaphone'. The motor marked Garrard No. 20 (Ref: 1030) 'Made in England'"
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OrthoFan
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Re: Do you think this is a real one or a frankenphone?

Post by OrthoFan »

I vote Franken-phone providing the case, which I can't see clearly, is authentic. DEFINITELY not from the 1930s, though most of the mechanical components such as the gradually tapered swan-neck style tonearm, the turntable, etc., are, or at least are from the later 1920s.

The crank also looks too long for the cabinet, and the horn is more in line with the gramophones produced in the early years of the first decade of the 20th century. (Flower or morning glory petal style horns mostly took over in popularity by mid-decade.)

If it's super cheap, it might be worth it for the horn and case (if authentic).

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epigramophone
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Re: Do you think this is a real one or a frankenphone?

Post by epigramophone »

The Garrard No.20 motor, turntable, brake, speed control and even the inverted tonearm probably started life in a portable.

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jamiegramo
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Re: Do you think this is a real one or a frankenphone?

Post by jamiegramo »

Yes these parts all started life in a portable. The brass horn is similar or the same as the repros being sold on the Portabella Road market from around 1980 onwards. With coming up to 40 years age they now look quite old.

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